The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources’ (NIER) state-of-the-art research building funded by the former Labor government’s Education Investment Fund was officially opened today.

NIER began operations in 2011, following a $42.2 million investment by the former Labor government. The $30 million centre officially opened today has been in operation since early 2013.

NIER is a world-leader in sustainable resource management research and clean energy research, with nearly $100 million of investment into the centre since it’s opening four years ago. The University of Newcastle is leading the way in Australia when it comes to connecting industry with research and more than 60% of research investment at NIER has been for collaborative projects funded by private industry sources.

Today’s re-announcement from 2014 that NIER is Australia’s Industrial Transformation Research Hub for Advanced Technologies for Australian Iron Ore is further recognition of the world-leading research expertise and capability here in Newcastle.

Labor’s Education Investment Fund has been been responsible for 71 infrastructure projects worth $2.4 billion, including more than $640 million for pure research infrastructure.

Newcastle has been a major beneficiary of Labor’s commitment to funding higher-education infrastructure. In addition to the funding for NIER, Labor contributed $7 million to the University of Newcastle’s Medical Science West Building, opened last year, and invested another $30 million into the NeW Space city campus currently under construction.